HORM Devotional

Colossians 1:13-14 says “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.’

DAILY READING; 1 Peter 1; Jeremiah 31-32; Psalm 134

Samuel Ajayi Crowther was born during a dangerous time in history. This was during the breakup of the old Yoruba Empire of Oyo, and the period of Islamic jihads. At this time, warfare and raiding became rampant.

One day his village was attacked by jihadists and burned down and the teenage Ajayi was captured, along with his mother and siblings. Their captors placed ropes around their necks and marched them away to slave markets. Ajayi became separated from his family, when he was sold to a different slave owner. The young Ajayi became so heartbroken that he attempted to kill himself. His owner later resold him and he would change hands six times, before being finally sold to Portuguese slave traders on a ship in Lagos bound for the transatlantic slave market.

Ajayi’s fate to permanent slavery seemed sealed as the Portuguese ship sailed across the ocean. However, just when it seemed all hope was lost, a British Naval squadron, on the lookout for slave traffickers, intercepted the Portuguese ship and freed the slaves. The British Navy then transported Ajayi and the others to Freetown, Sierra Leone, which was a British colony established as home for liberated African slaves. There, under the supervision of the Anglican Church Missionary Society, Ajayi was baptized as a Christian and received formal education. He later received a doctoral degree from Oxford University and worked as a linguist on several projects, including the translation of the Yoruba version of the Bible.

From a slave boy, Samuel Ajayi through faith in Christ, would become one of the most widely known African Christian leaders of the nineteenth century. He became the first bishop of Niger and the first Black bishop in the Anglican Church. Later one of his sons, Dandeson Coates Crowther, became archdeacon of the Niger Delta, and his grandson, Herbert Macaulay, was one of Nigeria’s first nationalists who played an important role in ending British colonial rule in Nigeria.

Colossians 1:13-14 says “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.’

Through His Blood, Christ delivered us from eternal slavery and ordained for us a glorious new life! When Jesus died on the cross, He tore the veil in twain and provided us free access to the glorious things behind the veil.

Behind the Veil, in the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, overlaid round about with gold, which had  the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. Inside here also was the symbol of the divine presence, the Shekinah-glory shining above the Mercy Seat, and between the figures of the cherubim.’

Through his Blood, Christ gave us access to this glorious and golden place behind the veil. By redemption, we were moved from slavery to glory.

Galatians 4:28 tells us that God has ordained for us to live enviable lives on earth after the order of isaac. It says ’Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise’

According to Genesis 26:12-14 Isaac sowed in the land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possessions of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Isaac was the envy of his generation. Though he was a stranger in the land of the Philistines, yet he dominated and reigned in their midst. And just like Isaac, as children of the promise, we have been redeemed to rule and reign in the midst of our enemies and to do mighty works on earth.

Titus 2:14 says Christ, gave Himself for us, to purify for himself a people zealous for good works. We have been redeemed to do greater works, to do mighty signs and wonders. However, faith is what will enable us to access this glorious life.

Deuteronomy 28:13 says when we hearken diligently unto the commandments of the Lord, He will make us the head and not the tail; and we shall be above only, and not be beneath.

Faith in God’s Word will indeed take us to the topmost places in life. It will take us from trials to triumphs and from tests to testimonies. The more we hear the Word, the more faith arises in our hearts and the more we shall keep going from glory to greater levels of glory…

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for delivering me from every form of mediocrity through the power that is in the Blood of Jesus Christ. By Your grace I shall ever be the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath in Jesus Name.

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Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will make you free. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 23: 4 ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’

DAILY READING;     James 5; Jeremiah 29-30; Psalm 133

Immaculée Ilibagiza, was a university  student , home on holiday, when the Rwandan genocide started. Her family being Tutsi, her father immediately told her to run to a local pastor’s house for protection from the rampaging Hutu militia. The pastor sheltered Immaculée and seven other women in a hidden 3 x 4 foot bathroom. As the genocide raged in the country, Immaculée began to read the Bible. And the more she read the Bible, the more her faith in God grew.

After 91 days of hiding in the bathroom, she finally came out, to find her family had been slaughtered and the entire country in total mayhem with dead bodies littering the roads. As Immaculée and 50 other Tutsi refugees were being conducted to safety by French soldiers, they suddenly ran into about a thousand Hutu killers, wielding bloody machetes. To Immaculee’s dismay, the French soldiers abandoned them right in the midst of these killers and ran away. But though it seemed the end had come, Immaculée held on to her faith in God’s promise of divine protection.

At that moment, one of the killers marched towards her with his machete, his eyes red with anger, and started to push her down. But faith rose up within her and she rebuked him saying ‘ Go away, evil!’. Immediately she spoke, she saw him begin to lose strength and then dropped his machete and walked away. Immaculee then led the small group of Tutsis, right through the crowd of Hutu killers. Although they circled her like sharks who had smelled blood, not one of them touched her or the other Tutsis.  Her faith in God was so strong that she knew He would never allow any of their machete to touch her. She eventually got to safety and was among the few Tutsis who survived that horrific genocide.

Her story is captured in the book ‘Left to Tell; Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust’. Her book has become a New York Times Best Seller, translated into over seventeen languages and made into a movie.

Psalm 23: 4 says ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’

It sounds incredible that an unarmed young school girl, could stare down over a thousand machete wielding bloodthirsty killers, but that is what the power of faith can do.  No force from hell can stop faith from having its way. Indeed when God stretches forth His hand to deliver, no one can turn it back (Isaiah 14:27].

When God gives  you a word of promise, circumstances cannot change it. God says what He means and He means what He says. No matter how the sea roars, it cannot stop God’s Word from coming to pass.

Anytime, Jesus asks you to walk on the water, He already knows about the wind, storm and billows. So just keep your gaze on Jesus and ignore the roaring of the storm. And as you walk in faith, He will never allow you to sink.

Indeed if we are going to walk in faith, then we cannot be moved by sight. Walking in faith means that you are so focused on what God has said that there is no room for fear. It means that though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you shall fear no evil. It means that though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, it will not come near you. Because when God sends you, He also leads you. He doesn’t leave you to go alone, He walks you through the valley. He goes ahead of you to make the crooked paths straight, He breaks the gates of brass and cuts the bars of iron asunder for you. And truly, when God is with you, nothing and no one can ever be against you.

Are you holding on to God’s promise today? Then be assured that God is able to do what He has said He will do. God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent, whatever His mouth has said, His hand is able to perform for you. Just believe and refuse to give in to fear. It doesn’t matter how impossible that situation, God is going to amaze you with His miracles. Just stand strong and keep speaking words of faith into that situation. Keep praising God for the manifestation. And surely God’s Word concerning you will never fall to the ground, every of His promises to you will surely be fulfilled in their season.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to continually fill my heart with your Word, so as to stand strong in faith. And no matter how contrary situations may seem today,  I praise You, because surely Your Word is coming to pass in my life in Jesus Name.

Quote :

God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222

Galatians 4:1-2 ‘Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.’

DAILY READING; • James 4; Jeremiah 27-28; Psalm 132

Louis XIV, known as Louis the Great, was the longest reigning European monarch in history. He became king at only four years old, when his father, the king of France died on May 14, 1643.

On succeeding his father to the throne, the little child became the leader of 19 million French subjects. However, because he was not mature enough to rule, his godfather, Chief Minister Cardinal Jules Mazarin, took over the government.

Over the course of his childhood, a governor was appointed to tutor the young king. While his godfather, Cardinal Jules Mazarin held the true power in France and controlled the government.

As Cardinal Jules Mazarin began to build an elaborate administration, Louis XIV, though the king, stood by and only observed, without being allowed to make any contribution. And even when he began to come of age as a teenager, he could not question Mazarin’s authority.

It wasn’t until Mazarin died in 1661, when Louis XIV was in his 20s, that the young king finally took control. Louis XIV quickly set about reforming France according to his own vision. He was a most brilliant king who brought great prosperity to France, yet all his great potentials had remained dormant during the time Cardinal Jules Mazarin ruled. Louis XIV ruled in France until he was about 77 years, and at his death, his 5-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV, who was the last male heir inherited the throne. Again, this young king would remain under heirs and tutors until he came of age to take control of the throne of France.

Galatians 4:1-2 says ‘Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.’

An heir who is not yet mature to rule, will be kept under a regency which will decide and execute decisions for him. And until he becomes mature, the heir will live as if a servant, because he will not be allowed to take charge.

As believers, we are joint heirs with Christ and we are born to reign as kings and priests on the earth. While a great inheritance belongs to us by covenant, being born again does not grant us automatic access to it. Before we can reign, we have to first grow through knowledge and spiritual exercises. This is a choice every believer has to make. It is our choice to grow or to groan.

Spiritual maturity comes through feeding on the right spiritual food. While spiritual babes feed on the milk of the Word, spiritual sons feed on the strong meat of the Word.

1 Peter 2:2 says “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”

When we are newly born again, we can feed on the milk of the Word, but as we grow older, we ought to begin to feed on strong meat.

Hebrews 5:14 says ‘But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.’

Feeding in the depth of the Word, will cause us to mature into sons who can ascend the throne and reign in dominion on the earth. These sons of the Kingdom are those that will be qualified to exercise triumphant faith.

Today, there is really a need for us as believers to grow up and take our place of dominion on earth. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Christ is coming for a reigning Church, ruling in the midst of her enemies. Therefore, we can no longer afford to remain spiritual babes, being treated as servants. It is indeed time to correct the error of slaves riding on horses, while the princes of the kingdom walk like slaves on the earth.[Ecclesiastes 10:7].

In every area of our endeavors we ought to be the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath. Let us therefore take the spiritual responsibility of diligent study of God’s Word, so as to grow into sonship and maturity. Through exercise of great faith we shall ascend our throne and truly reign as kings on the earth.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the glorious throne You have ordained for me this year. Please enable me to meditate constantly on your Word so that my heart can be filled with the faith I need to live in dominion and reign on the earth in Jesus Name.

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God knows how to work everything together in your life for your own good. WORDBITE 222.

1 Peter 5:8-9  ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.’

DAILY READING  • James 3; Jeremiah 25-26; Psalm 131

On December 14th 2010, during a school board meeting at the Bay County school in Panama city Florida, the husband of a fired school employee  walked in. The Board members thought  he had come to make a complaint, however, when he stood  before them, they suddenly realized that he had a gun.

There had been no armed security in the school compound that day, but by divine providence, a retired police officer, who acted as the school’s Security chief, who was meant to be on vacation, decided to head towards the school to be part of the  Board meeting.

As the shooter lined up the board members, against the wall,  these men and women who were Christians knew their only hope of rescue was God.  And as they called upon God, He intervened. As the man began to shoot, the first board member he shot, was the school’s superintendent. What was amazing was that he shot him from about 8 feet away, at point blank  and yet the superintendent was not hit. He was saved by a notebook held in front of him. When the man took a second shot at another Board member, the gun failed to fire. Before he could take another shot, the retired cop, who had arrived at the meeting, stepped into the room and shot back at him. The shooter then faced the retired cop and released a volley of bullets in his direction. Five bullets circled around the head of the retired cop, hitting the wall, but none hit his head.  As the shooter shot randomly around the room at the Board members., miraculously no one was hit by any bullet.  Eventually the shooter turned the gun on his own head and killed himself.

Within hours, the Bay County school board incident was in the center of national news. In front of the world, the school board members shared that is was God who saved their lives. The Board members said that their faith in God had been strong, and they knew He was with them in that room and that was what had stopped the bullets from hitting any of them.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.’

Faith is the weapon with which we can resist every attack of the enemy. We live in a world where the enemy goes about looking for whom to devour, therefore we cannot afford to live life by chance. In the dangerous environment of the world today, we must live vigilant and sober and ever spiritually prepared to overcome.  And this we do by daily, deliberately, ensuring we are spiritually armed.

The victory that overcomes the world is our faith, this is why we must be constantly ready with the weapon of faith. When we are full of faith, we will always be victorious in every conflict. And we know that faith comes from hearing God’s Word.

Every believer has the responsibility to go in pursuit of the Word. When you study your Bible, it should be a deliberate action of storing up faith and  preparing yourself against the day of battle. When challenge arises, there should be strength within you to rise up to it. You don’t have to wait for trouble, before you begin to seek faith from the Word, it may be too late then.  Life is a warfare and not a fanfare; it is a battle ground and not a playground. The truth is that the battles of life come suddenly, without time for preparation. This is why you must be prepared. Therefore live ready and build up your faith in advance.

Truly, the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Therefore decide today to begin to store up the Word of God in enough quantity in your heart. When you are armed with faith, certainly you will be able to steadfastly resist every attack and triumph always.

PRAYER

Lord,  thank You for the granting me the grace to live ready by building up my faith through the constant study of Your word. Indeed by faith, I know that I am more than a conqueror in every conflict of life in Jesus Name.

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When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

JULY 18;  PREPARATION FOR MANIFESTATION..

2 Chronicles 27:6  says ‘So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God’

DAILY READING   –James 2; Jeremiah 23-24; Psalm 130

In 2017, the town of Rockport, Texas was one of the places where Hurricane Harvey made a major landfall. The 108 mph winds and more than 40 inches of rain destroyed houses, and schools. But a 1,100-year-old oak tree was left standing at Goose Island State Park. This old tree has survived many such hurricanes, however this is not surprising because oaks are known to withstand incredibly strong storms, like tornados and hurricanes. Even when they are stripped of their leaves, oak trees survive because of their strength, their curvy branches, and their incredible root systems.

The oak tree is known in many different cultures around the world as a symbol of strength. The oak is designated the National Tree in at least 14 countries around the world, including the United States, where six states have designated a species of oak as their official state tree.

Oak wood is selected because of its strength and endurance in the building of great ships, including the USS Constitution, the first ship of the U.S. Navy. Live oaks are known to grow to between 40 and 80 feet tall. Perhaps the most interesting fact about the oaks is that their root systems will grow to almost the same depth as their height, pushing down as deep as the tree is high, and branching out as wide as the branches!  This dynamic strength  and tenacity  of its root system keeps the oak firmly grounded and stable even in the midst of the greatest storms.

Spiritually also, the deeper our roots in God, the greater the heights we can attain in life. Before attaining to greatness there must be  seasons of preparation when we develop great faith in God.  Such adequate preparation is what enables  us to survive the great storms and hurricanes of life. .

In our lives and ministry, a hidden season of spiritual preparation must precede a period of visibility or outward  prominence.  In the life of David for instance, we saw how God first prepared him in a hidden season before taking him to greatness.  It was in the bush, in a time of prayerful devotion, a season of serving unseen and unknown, that God prepared David for the throne. In this place God expanded his root system. When David defeated Goliath many thought he was an overnight success, but it was due to his preparation in fighting the bears and lions. In that hidden season of his life, he learned to trust God and make God his strong refuge. Indeed preparation is the mother of manifestation and God will first prepare us before He presents us to our world.

2 Chronicles 27:6  says ‘So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.’

You become a champion by preparation. Successful seasons of preparation must involve times of separation spent in deep studying of God’s Word.  This is how we build great faith that gives us spiritual establishment which is crucial to our outward manifestation.  Spiritual preparation determines the results you get in the physical because the physical is controlled by the spiritual.

To achieve the triumphant faith that will give us constant victory let us learn to spend time in diligent study of the Word. The depth of our revelation from the Word, will indeed lead to the height of the revolution we can experience in life.

Hebrews 11:6 says ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’

If our goal is to please God and fulfill His plan for our lives then we must invest in building great faith in the Word. And the greater our understanding,  the more outstanding  our lives will be on the earth.

PRAYER: Lord, Please  grant  me the grace to pay the price of diligent study of Scriptures so that I can build deep faith in Your Word. Thank You Lord, for preparing me for the great destiny You have foreordained for me in Jesus Name.

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Everything that ultimately  has a glorious ending usually has a humble beginning.

WORDBITE 222

John 1:4-5 ‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not’

DAILY READING – •           James 1; Jeremiah 21-22; Psalm 129

Scientists predict that in about 5 billion years, the sun will one day run out of hydrogen and its light will die off. That of course is hard to imagine. If the Sun ever goes out, it would mean the end of life on earth, because the Sun is at the heart of the solar system and sustains all life on earth.

According to this scientific prediction, if the light of the sun goes off, about nine minutes after, the world would be in complete darkness. In the parts of the world where it would be already night, the Moon would disappear, because it would not receieve any light from the sun to reflect. And the same would be the case for the many other celestial bodies in the sky, such as planets, which we see only because of the Sun’s reflected light.

Without the Sun’s warmth, Earth would quickly become a much colder place, life would become much more difficult as diseases would multiply rapidly in the cold environment. Scientists estimate that the average global surface temperature would drop below 0º F within a week and within a year, the average global surface temperature could dip well below -100º F!  By that time, the top layers of the oceans of the world would have frozen over. Without the Sun’s rays, all photosynthesis on Earth would stop. All plants would die and, eventually, all animals that rely on plants for food — including humans — would die, too. Without the Sun, life would eventually prove to be impossible to maintain on Earth, because it is the light of the sun that keeps away death and darkness from the earth. All this indeed goes to show the crucial role the sun plays in keeping life on earth going.

Malachi 4:2  says ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall’

Jesus is the Sun of righteousness that shines to keep us alive.  Jesus is the light of the world and the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world [John 1:9]. And just as the sun shines to keep away death and sustain life on earth, so also Christ’s light shines to keep away the forces of darkness and cause us to stay alive.

John 1:5 says ‘And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’

The light of God’s Word is what keeps away the forces of darkness from having their way in the life of a person. Just like when you turn on the light in a room, and darkness goes away instantly, likewise, when we turn on the light of the Word, the powers of darkness immediately surrender. Just as our God is a consuming fire, so also is His Word.

Jeremiah 23:29 says: ‘Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?’

The Word of God is indeed the fire that burns every chaff. So to keep away the encroachment of darkness from your health, finances, or relationships, you simply keep the light of God’s Word burning in you. This is what causes faith to arise in your heart to keep you in constant victory.

It is the entrance of God’s Word that gives light. So as you keep loading the relevant scriptures into your heart, the light will be shining in you to keep away the forces of death and darkness. This is how you can keep your body healthy and free from oppression. As the light shines in you there will be no hiding place for any sickness or disease.  And today, as we commit to loading our heart with God’s Word, the Sun of righteousness shall indeed arise with healing in His wings for us. The light of God’s countenance will shine upon us, bringing healing, deliverance and  establishing our all-round victory in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Father, thank You, for the light of Your Word that is shattering every darkness around me and establishing me in dominion. Thank You Lord for making me triumphant and victorious over every affliction in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :

Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222

Ephesians 6:16-17 ‘Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’

DAILY READING; Philemon 1:1-25; Jeremiah 19-20; Psalm 128

Spartacus, is the most popular gladiator in history. He was the gladiator that led the most successful slave revolt in the history of the Roman Empire.

Gladiators were ancient professional fighters, who often fought to death to entertain crowds in the Roman amphitheaters. Gladiators relied on their swords. Their name came from the Latin word ‘gladius’, which is the short sword used in their combats.

However, gladiators were often kept in slavery and oppression and treated cruelly. And as a result of this, in 73 BCE these gladiators decided to revolt. Spartacus, became the leader of 78 gladiators who rebelled against the oppression. After overpowering their guards and scrambling over the walls, they were fortunate to find a wagon transporting weapons to another city. They quickly took over the wagon and each man took a sword to himself. Armed with these weapons, this little band of rebelling gladiators were suddenly turned to a dangerous fighting force. They headed towards Rome believing that their only key to freedom lay in crushing Rome itself. Their numbers kept increasing, as other revolting slaves joined, until they had reached almost 120,000 men.

Rome sent several troops to confront them but these troops were all defeated by Spartacus and his men. Rome trembled with fear, as with the defeat of its various legions, the city was now short of available troops and able commanders. Even Commanders on the war field had to be recalled to help fight the rebels. Eventually when Rome had almost exhausted its soldiers, the rebellion was eventually crushed.

However, it is quite interesting to note that this small band of gladiators became confident to fight the great Roman Empire, because they were able to lay their hands on swords.

Ephesians 6:16-17 says ‘Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit that gives us confidence in spiritual warfare. When you are armed with the Word, you can rebel against any oppression. Spiritual warfare is essentially a war of words and the superior word of power that guarantees us victory is God’s Word. We become triumphant in spiritual battles, when we engage the sword of the Spirit, by releasing faith-filled words against the enemy.

When you speak faith-filled words, you are speaking with a mouth and wisdom which the enemy cannot resist nor gainsay.  And we acquire faith by diligent study of God’s Word. When faith arises in your heart, it will cause you to attack with precision, confidence and assurance, because you are certain of what you are saying.

When Jesus was on the mountain for a 40-day fast, He released faith-filled Words against each temptation of the enemy by declaring ‘It is written..’. And after three times of declaring God’s Word, Matthew 4:11 stated ‘Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.’

When you are armed with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, you will be victorious in every battle.  The Word of God is a two edged sword which can break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. It can break every chain of oppression and destroy every yoke of limitation.

In any way the enemy is trying to oppress you today, you can revolt against that oppression. Engage the sword of the Spirit by declaring God’s Word over that situation. Refuse to accept that bondage of sickness and poverty, refuse to accept that slavery to sin, refuse to accept any situation contrary to God’s will for you. You can reject every form of oppression, because you have what it takes to be a winner. Indeed with faith from God’s Word, you have the victory that overcomes the world.

PRAYER: Lord, by the power in Your Word, I know that I have the victory today against every oppression of the enemy. Thank You Lord, for indeed I  have the victory over sickness, poverty, and every form of limitations in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

The study of The Word will keep  shame and disgrace far from you. WORDBITE 222

Galatians 3;12-14 ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith’

DAILY READING ; Titus 3; Jeremiah 17-18; Psalm 127

In October 1997, international Headlines carried the news of an attempted coup in Zambia by a group of soldiers. This revolt had been crushed soon after their takeover announcment and the soldiers arrested.

Paul Swala was one of these coup plotters arrested for treason. While in the prison Paul knew he was in a hopeless situation and it meant the end of his life, because they would be executed once convicted. But one day, while in prison, he saw a book titled ‘Who is Jesus?’. He picked up the book and began to read. And from the understanding he received, he gave his life to Christ. And as he started to attend the prison Christian fellowship, his faith began to grow. And though it seemed impossible, he began to believe God for his freedom. He made a promise to serve God with his life, if he was ever set free.

Finally the day of the court judgment came. The Judge announced that out of the 59 soldiers arrested, 58 had been sentenced to death by hanging. However he said that one person had been found innocent by the law. And as everyone wondered who that could be, the judge said ‘accused number six, Paul Swala, you are innocent. The law has found you innocent. Go Home.’

Paul couldn’t believe his ears and the judge had to repeat his name three times, before it sank in; he was indeed free! And thus he was set free from the prison and returned back to his home. And just as he had promised God, today, Paul Swala serves as a Prison minister and has gone to almost all the prisons in Zambia, telling prisoners that with faith in God, all things are possible.

Faith indeed can be audacious. It can achieve the unexpected, the unprecedented and the impossible. When situations seem hopeless and there seems to be no way out, through faith we can see miracles, above what we could ever ask, think or imagine. Faith does not follow protocol or submit to the status quo, it simply shows up and does that which cannot be explained by men.

The audacity of faith was what broke Paul and Silas out of prison. Despite being in a hopeless situation, they dared to believe God for a miracle. They were locked up, beaten up, and bound between soldiers. But as they lifted up their voices in praise, proclaiming their faith in God’s ability, God moved suddenly, and broke down the prison doors and brought them out.

Indeed there is no closed case with faith. It doesn’t matter what may look impossible to men, when you dare to believe, all things will be possible to you. No matter how tight the captivity, God is able to organize a rescue for you. When all hope seems to be lost and there seems to be no way out, God can suddenly show up and make a way. That was what happened at Calvary.

Humanity had been condemned to death and without any hope in this life, but Jesus showed up, broke the hold of sin and death and set us free. The blood of Jesus reversed every curse of the law against us; including sickness, disease, poverty, lack, depression, addiction or any type of bondage to sin [Galatians 3;12-14]

By the shed blood of Jesus, the hold of sin and satan was broken over our lives forever. Through His Blood, Jesus has made freedom from every captivity available to us today.

However, violent faith is the force of freedom. Matthew 11:12 tells us the violent take it by force and that force is the force of faith.

Through faith we can break free from every captivity. And as we begin to engage violent faith today, by declaring God’s Word consistently over our lives, surely God will show up for our deliverance and cause us to triumph always

PRAYER: Father I thank You for Your sudden visitation that is bringing a positive change of story in my situation. Indeed that which is impossible to men is totally possible to You. Thank You Lord for victory by the Blood in Jesus Name.

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When God places His hand upon a man in life, nothing can come against him. WORDBITE 222

Mark 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

DAILY READING; Titus 2; Jeremiah 15-16; Psalm 126

Pam and Bob Tebow were serving as missionaries in the Philippines when Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine. She went into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before it was discovered that she was pregnant.
Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby. Through faith in God, she refused the abortion and believed that her baby would be born without the devastating disabilities the physicians predicted. While pregnant, Pam nearly lost the baby four times, but still refused to consider abortion. She then made a pledge to God with her husband saying ‘If You will give us a son, we’ll name him Timothy and he’ll be a preacher.’
Pam spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987. Her doctor said it was the biggest miracle he had seen because there was just a tiny piece of placenta that was attached to the baby and there was no explanation for how he had survived all of those months in the womb.
Tim Tebow would grow up to become the biggest of Pam’s five children and most recognized. He became a star football player at the University of Florida and was the first sophomore in history to win college football’s highest award, the Heisman Trophy. Later playing as quarterback for the Denver Broncos, he used his platform for Christian witness. He is well known for kneeling down in the field to praise God after each game and writing scriptures verses on parts of his body during the game. And just as his mother covenanted with God, Tim today is also a preacher. who preaches in prisons, makes hospital visits, and serves with his father’s ministry in the Philippines.

Indeed nothing can abort the greatness carried within you, when you stand your ground in faith.

Mark 9:23 says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

When you dare to believe despite the odds, all things will be possible to you. Faith triggers the flow of God’s power in our direction.

In Luke 8:44-48, the faith of the woman with the issue of blood, drew virture from Jesus towards her. As soon as she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment by faith, power began to flow towards her and she was made perfectly whole.
Indeed when you have enough faith there is no mountain you cannot move. Everything in redemption belongs to us but only what we believe is released to us.
God’s power is always available to heal and deliver, but the question is, if we have enough faith to draw the miracle that we need. The important point is not about how big the problem is, but about how big our faith is. Faith is our covenant access to the power of God.
And truly when we believe nothing shall be impossible unto us. It doesn’t matter what your medical report or financial statement may be saying today, with enough faith, every negative situation can turn around in your favor.

Seeing then that faith is what we need to have our miracles, let us therefore spend quality time in daily studying the scriptures and praying in the Holy Ghost so as to build up our faith. And as we praise God in advance for our miracles, surely nothing shall be impossible to us.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to build up enough faith to see the miracles I desire. Please destroy every form of spiritual laziness and enable me to pay the price of in-depth study of the Scriptures so as to see Your power flow mightily in my life in Jesus Name. .

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There is more to you than meets the eyes. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. – WORDBITE 222.

Ephesians 6:16  ‘Above all, taking the shield of faith where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.’

DAILY READING; Titus 1; Jeremiah 13-14; Psalm 125

Virginia Prodan is an International Human Rights Attorney and author of the book, ‘saving my assassin’.

Virginia grew up in Communist Romania during the brutal totalitarian regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, It was a time when many Romanians lived in constant fear. And though the Bible was a forbidden book under the communist regime, Virginia  dared to search its pages and found the truth that made her to become a Christian.

Working as a young attorney, she began to defend Christians against unjust persecution of Ceausescu’s brutal Socialist regime. Her fearless stand as a Christian, made her to become a target of the secret police . She was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, placed under house arrest, and came within seconds of being executed under the orders of the president himself. However Virginia through faith in God continued to overcome  every attempt to silence her.

Finally, one day an assassin was sent to kill her. Late at night, after a long day in court, her legal assistant, ushered in a new client to see her.  However this new client turned out to be a government assassin and as soon as he was alone with her, he pulled out his gun.

Despite the initial shock, she began silent, fervent prayers, recalling God’s promises. And in that moment she felt the Holy Spirit breathing peace into her heart and prompting her to share the gospel with the man. And as she began preaching to him, to her utmost surprise he listened and began weeping. That night he gave his life to Christ and would later enroll in a Seminary.

Virginia Prodan remained courageous in the face of the government’s intimidation and eventually helped to expose the appalling secrets that led to the demise of Ceausescu’s evil regime.

1 John 5:4  says  ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’

Though all the odds seemed against her, through faith in God, Virginia overcame them all. Indeed no matter how the enemy tries to corner you, as long as your faith remains alive, you cannot be defeated.  Faith is crucial if we must live a victorious life.

Trials and temptations come to everyone. But when it feels like the odds are against you; when Nebuchadnezzar has turned up the fire seven times, when Pharaoh won’t let you go, and Goliath is coming at you, always remember that God has given you the weapon with which to overcome. It is called faith. Faith is  both our weapon of resistance and defense, against the attacks of the enemy.

1 Peter 5: 9  says we should resist the enemy steadfastly through  faith, and Ephesians 6:16 says we should take the shield of faith, where with we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

So as long as you are armed with faith, you will always have the victory. A time came when Jesus told Simon Peter that the devil was plotting against him, but He had prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.

Luke 22:31-32 says ‘And the Lord said, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.’

Notice that Jesus did not pray for the temptation not to come, because He knew  it was normal to be tempted,  but His prayer was that Peter’s faith would not fail.

Indeed  faith makes the difference between victory and defeat. Faith is so important that God has designed it to be the constant lifestyle of a believer. Habakkuk 2:4 says that the just shall live by his faith. Even Christianity itself is called ‘the faith.’

Let us therefore constantly arm ourselves with faith through in-depth study of God’s Word. And as you stand in faith, even when the odds  seem against you, God will be totally for you. He will turn that test into your testimony, He will turn the trial into your triumph and give you total victory.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace for in-depth study of Your Word, so that I can acquire the triumphant faith I need to overcome all obstacles on my way. Thank You Lord for giving me constant victory in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :

It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.